Right off I was pissed when I read the press release of the shorts because the first section listed is called “Men-hattan.” Here’s how it is described: “Our New York shorts program takes a decidedly masculine turn in these testosterone-infused tales.”
Now I know I write and highlight women because there is a lack of opportunities for women directed films, but to see a full section of male directed shorts about men seems to me like they are creating an unneeded affirmative action program for male directors. And I’m betting that no one would ever think to put together a program that actually said our New York shorts program takes a decidedly feminine turn with etrogen-infuded tales.” (And Neil Labute gets two slots — one as director and writer in the MenHattan program and as a writer in another program.)
And to make matters worse there are only 12 out of 60 shorts directed by women. 20%. So putting a male only program together in a program with so few female directors…bad move.
Here they are:
Program- Character Flaws (Narrative)
Whakatiki — Directed by Louise Leitch, written by Bernadette Murphy
Time of the Plums (Erik Zamani) — Directed by Sezen Kayhan, written by Sezen Kayhan and Cemil Kavukçu
Program — Status Update (Narrative)
GABI, Written and Directed by Zoe Salicrup Junco
Program — Fallout (Narrative)
Adirake, Written and Directed by Tati Barrantes and Andinh Ha
Chupachups, Directed by Ji-suk Kyung
Program — Tryptych (Documentary)
Beauty Culture, Directed by Lauren Greenfield
Program — Long Story Short (Documentary)
Every Tuesday: A Portrait of the New Yorker Cartoonists, Directed by Rachel Loube
Library of Dust, Directed by Ondi Timoner and Robert James
The Perfect Fit, Directed by Tali Yankelevich
Program — Journeys Across Cultural Landscapes (Experimental)
An Incomplete History of the Travelogue, 1925, Directed by Sasha Waters Freyer
Program — Help Wanted (Documentary)
My Neighbourhood, Directed by Julia Bacha and Rebekah Wingert-Jabi, written by Rebekah Wingert-Jabi
Program — Escape Clause (Narrative)
Stitches, Written and Directed by Adiya Imri Orr